Marathoners have pretty much turned it into a complete sprint. It's absolutely crazy how fast they can get while running that distance. It's not even distance running anymore, try running 100 miles because that's more of a planned distance run that takes a ton of strategy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon

Current marathon world record is 2h03:38, for 42195m that is an average of 20.5km/h.

My best time for 10km is 53min, which is about 11.3km/h, and I am not going anywhere after those 10km. I think I would not even be able to reach 20.5km/h at full sprint speed, let alone hold that speed for a long distance.

>> ^Mandtis:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon
Current marathon world record is 2h03:38, for 42195m that is an average of 20.5km/h.
My best time for 10km is 53min, which is about 11.3km/h, and I am not going anywhere after those 10km. I think I would not even be able to reach 20.5km/h at full sprint speed, let alone hold that speed for a long distance.


Better start training more

Great concept---but keyboard sound effects still drive me nuts.

WTF does this have to do with Skyrim??

>> ^Maze:

WTF does this have to do with Skyrim??


theres a lot of running involved ? maybe.

also. I take away from this that there's no need to bother training to run long distances unless you have very long legs. I don't, therefore i default back to eating pizza - something i have a chance at being good at.

Man, I feel better now. It's true, this whole "sports" thing does make you feel good.

It'd probably take an Olympic sprinter to beat the video. I'm sure it was taken when he was at the height of his stride, its just too much to try and keep up with from a cold start. Thus why even Ryan Hall couldn't beat Ryan Hall, even when he tried getting some speed before the timer went off.

And yet the winner of this year's Canadian Death Race finished in 12 hours 15 minutes.

Thats 125km, with 17,000 feet of elevation change, at about 10kph.

Still a pretty crazy pace.>> ^Yogi:

Marathoners have pretty much turned it into a complete sprint. It's absolutely crazy how fast they can get while running that distance. It's not even distance running anymore, try running 100 miles because that's more of a planned distance run that takes a ton of strategy.

>> ^Skeeve:

And yet the winner of this year's Canadian Death Race finished in 12 hours 15 minutes.
Thats 125km, with 17,000 feet of elevation change, at about 10kph.
Still a pretty crazy pace.>> ^Yogi:
Marathoners have pretty much turned it into a complete sprint. It's absolutely crazy how fast they can get while running that distance. It's not even distance running anymore, try running 100 miles because that's more of a planned distance run that takes a ton of strategy.



Some of those 100 mile guys keep up a blistering pace even going at that distance. They sometimes slow down and on some races have to stop for medical checks and the like. But when they hit a good stride and have a good group with them, it can bring out the best of what a human is capable of and it's really astonishing.

I could keep up with him. About 15 years ago. I could go as fast as 40 kph and up, but not anymore I dont.

The man on the video is about 8.5 feet tall; there lies your problem folks.

One thing that you have to take into consideration, is that the video of Ryan Hall has a running start, and most people passing by and interacting with the video are starting with a standing start. Though continuing to keep up with Ryan Hall for the rest of the 26.199 miles is an entirely different story ~(^_^~)

Exactly. Proportionally, he's running about 30% faster if the real guy is 6.5 feet tall, and the video is blown up 30%. No wonder the real guy can't keep up. There was a similar exhibit of a 10m sprint at the Ontario Science Centre (maybe still is) where you had to run against a pro sprinter and beat her time of 2s. It was from the blocks to the finish line with electric timers. That was a fair race.>> ^MonkeySpank:

The man on the video is about 8.5 feet tall; there lies your problem folks.

most other species on the planet of similar proportion would destroy that guy. luckily, we're currently eliminating all the competition.
we're the best!

>> ^criticalthud:

most other species on the planet of similar proportion would destroy that guy. luckily, we're currently eliminating all the competition.
we're the best!


For 26 miles?

No.

(unless you're talking about a fight, then probably)

>> ^Psychologic:

>> ^criticalthud:
most other species on the planet of similar proportion would destroy that guy. luckily, we're currently eliminating all the competition.
we're the best!

For 26 miles?
No.
(unless you're talking about a fight, then probably)


ahh...for 60 feet a hippopotamus would beat a human.
for longer distances we do alright trudging along and the creme' de la creme of humanity ain't bad. but on average...uhhh. i'll take the average dog, horse, deer, cat, gazelle, or chicken to outdistance a human without too much effort.

>> ^criticalthud:

>> ^Psychologic:
>> ^criticalthud:
most other species on the planet of similar proportion would destroy that guy. luckily, we're currently eliminating all the competition.
we're the best!

For 26 miles?
No.
(unless you're talking about a fight, then probably)

ahh...for 60 feet a hippopotamus would beat a human.
for longer distances we do alright trudging along and the creme' de la creme of humanity ain't bad. but on average...uhhh. i'll take the average dog, horse, deer, cat, gazelle, or chicken to outdistance a human without too much effort.


Yeah the average American would lose to anything faster than a plant in an endurance race

But well-trained humans are possibly the best endurance runners:
http://www.physorg.com/news95954919.html
http://discovermagazine.com/2006/may/tramps-like-us
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/health/27well.html

>> ^criticalthud:
on average...uhhh. i'll take the average dog, horse, deer, cat, gazelle, or chicken to outdistance a human without too much effort.


All of those would lose to similarly conditioned humans in distance. Running on four legs is fast, but not very efficient. Humans require a lot less energy to run long distances.

Another big factor is the ability to sweat. Most ground animals would die of hyperthermia trying to keep up with a marathon runner.

>> ^Psychologic:

>> ^criticalthud:
on average...uhhh. i'll take the average dog, horse, deer, cat, gazelle, or chicken to outdistance a human without too much effort.

All of those would lose to similarly conditioned humans in distance. Running on four legs is fast, but not very efficient. Humans require a lot less energy to run long distances.
Another big factor is the ability to sweat. Most ground animals would die of hyperthermia trying to keep up with a marathon runner.


i'm intrigued!

so, i'm wondering, is a distance race of no concern to evolution, or does it simply reflect that most predators are short range creatures?

>> ^criticalthud:

>> ^Psychologic:
>> ^criticalthud:
on average...uhhh. i'll take the average dog, horse, deer, cat, gazelle, or chicken to outdistance a human without too much effort.

All of those would lose to similarly conditioned humans in distance. Running on four legs is fast, but not very efficient. Humans require a lot less energy to run long distances.
Another big factor is the ability to sweat. Most ground animals would die of hyperthermia trying to keep up with a marathon runner.

i'm intrigued!
so, i'm wondering, is a distance race of no concern to evolution, or does it simply reflect that most predators are short range creatures?


There's probably a tradeoff between the mechanics of speed and those of efficient distance travel. For an animal that can win in a fight with its prey, speed and/or surprise would seem to be the most beneficial talent.

Humans weren't that great at taking down wild animals though, and from what I've read they were running animals literally to death (or inability to defend themselves) long before weapons came into widespread use.


Here's a quick TED Talk on the subject.